Welcome to the Brisbane Strikers.

Hello all and welcome to the second edition of the club electronic newsletter. The first edition was very well received and certainly was an important step on our objective to provide more and relevant communication to you, the club’s parents, supporters and volunteers.

This edition has some very informative articles about high performance and injury treatment issues so I am sure you will find very worthwhile reading.

If you have any feedback, comments or suggestions on the content please don’t hesitate to drop me an email at ceo@brisbanestrikers.com.au .

Bruce Dinsdale
CEO

Prior to the start of the 2015 season the Brisbane Strikers established a High Performance Unit (HPU) with the goal of making objective much of what has previously been subjective in developmental football.

Each home game you will have seen a part of the HPU in action. With the aid of students from QUT and FC11 all home games are filmed from which a number of things occur.

Firstly, at the end of the game the team coach is supplied with a full copy of the game allowing them to review player performance, which in turn allows them to prepare for forthcoming training sessions.

Secondly, using sport-coding software we make individual player clips of each player’s game. Player clips provide a 3 to 5 minute video of each time the player is in possession. Each clip within the video records approximately 2 seconds before and 5 seconds after the player receives the ball. Player clip video’s are used by coaches as feedback enabling the player to view a concentrated record of their performance.

Third and last, from the game video passing statistics from each player are recorded. Data is obtained on whether the pass went forward, sideways or backwards and in which third of the field it was completed (defensive, middle or attacking). We also record whether the pass was successful or unsuccessful. All data is then placed within a spreadsheet allowing analysis to be undertaken providing information on performance by player, by match, by position and for comparison over seasons. This information is what you see during player coach interviews.

Our aim within the HPU is to provide quality information to coaches and players in a timely manner. To do this we need the support of the students from QUT and FC11 along with hardware and software. If you would like to know more about the role of the HPU or believe that you may like to help support by sponsoring equipment please contact the HPU Manager Russell Hicks on hpu@brisbanestrikers.com.au or 0412794626.

Last weekend in the inner sanctum of the Brisbane Strikers dressing room, before our big game against the Brisbane Roar, I couldn’t help but notice the kaleidoscope of different football boots all the senior players wear. There were more varieties of boots than David Beckham has had hairstyles. This left me pondering a question I often get asked by players, “what should I look for in a football boot?”

Picking the correct football boot is essential because a Brisbane Strikers first team player can cover as much as 12kms in one game. The type of boot you choose can assist with your performance and significantly help to minimise injury. To help you choose, below is a list of factors to consider:

Synthetic vs. Leather
What your boot is made from can influence the fit and comfort. Many popular brands are made from synthetic materials, which has allowed boots to become lighter and more water resistant. However, synthetic materials have varying levels of quality, which can influence the durability and longevity of the boot. Leather boots, commonly made from cows or kangaroos, often last longer and mold better to your feet due to the soft nature of the leather. However, leather boots are often a little heavier and styles are limited.

The most important thing to consider is how long and often you intend to use the boots for, and how they feel when they are on your feet. If they feel uncomfortable in the store, it’s likely they will feel uncomfortable when you’re covering close to 12kms in a game… read more

Here is some more information from Michael Angus, Skills Development Officer, about the Brisbane Strikers SAP program.

“The Skills Acquisition Program (SAP) is a fundamental phase for player development between the ages of 9 – 13. The aim of this program is to enhance the functional game skills for each individual player so they then have the technical foundation required for the next phase of development”.

To achieve this the training is designed and modelled around ‘Small sided games’ and a 1 coach per 12 player ratio to increase the amount of decision making and to maximise the amount of football actions performed. The sessions are broken down into 4 core skills: First Touch, 1 v 1, Striking The Ball and Running With The Ball with a further focus on awareness and positioning.

Each session will focus on one particular core skill as the main objective. During these sessions we teach the players the required ‘technique’ to perform the respective ‘skill’ then increase the repetition and decision making to challenge the players further. The players will then develop the technical ‘tools’ and foundation to perform specific tasks that will be required at the next phase of development..

CARNIVAL DAYS:

The players also take part in six SAP carnival days across the year where all SAP teams across the South-weast Queensld region are invited to play games in a 9 v 9 set up.

“This is used for the players to express what they have been working on in training and to apply it in a real game scenario against good quality opposition. This challenges the players by rotating them into different positions on the field so they can experience different pressures and decisions that they may not be used to for the purpose of their own individual development.”

The most recent carnival was held in Toowoomba at the Toowoomba Grammar facilities.

Michael

DAUNTAE MARINERThe flow of Brisbane Strikers to fully professional football clubs continues, with 16-year-old Dauntae Mariner about to join English Football League Championship club Blackburn Rovers.

Mariner, who has been with Strikers since the PlayStation 4 NPL kicked off in 2013, recently trialled with Rovers and so impressed their coaching staff that they offered him a two-year scholarship at their Football Academy. The young attacker leaves Brisbane next month to take up the offer, which he hopes will eventually lead to a career as a professional footballer.

“I leave on the twentieth of June. I’ll go back to start pre-season there and settle in there. I’m very excited for it,” Mariner said on Saturday…. Read more

SHELFORD DAISThe Brisbane Strikers have set another talented young footballer on the pathway to a potential Hyundai A-League career, with dynamic winger Shelford Dais (pictured) departing Perry Park to join Central Coast Mariners. Dais, 19, whose pace, power and massive work rate has unsettled opposition defences in each of his ten starts for Strikers this season, left Brisbane to join the Mariners’ PlayStation 4 NPL NSW Youth setup today. Like many footballers leaving one club for another, Dais admitted to mixed feelings but was nonetheless relishing the chance to push on towards an A-League career. “I’m excited to go down there but sad to leave Strikers already, after only just rejoining’, said the winger as he mapped out what he hoped to achieve over the next year or two. ….. Read more

Brisbane Strikers have consistently stated that their
Mission Statement is…
“Identifying and developing the talents of locally-based footballers with a view to preparing them for the elite levels of the game, while playing in the highest standard of competition available to the club.”

Under-16’s: On track to achieve goals

This year’s Brisbane Strikers Under-16s squad has had a rather inconsistent half-season, but coach Javi Gomez is confident his players are on track to form the basis of next year’s Under-18s and achieve all that he believes them capable of.

Performances and results have been a little patchy but Gomez, who is in charge of his first PlayStation 4 NPL squad, says that while his boys still have plenty to learn their best football this season is just around the corner.

“We’ve been struggling with a couple of long term injuries and a number of other recurring soft injuries, which have had an impact on the team performance,” Gomez said last week.

“When you’ve got reduced numbers at training – just eleven or twelve players – you cannot really work with the structure that you put on a game through game training”... .../Read more

Name

Matthew Wilson

Date of Birth

4th March 2004

School

Brisbane High School

Best subject

Maths

When did you join Strikers

For SAP and then this year for U12’s

Miniroos Club

U6 to U10 Loganholme and U11 at Rochdale

Which team do you support

Arsenal and Brisbane Roar

Favourite Player in world football

Lionel Messi

Favourite Player A-League

Besart Berisha

Favourite food

Spaghetti Bolognese

Favourite drink

Water or milk

Best football memory

A-League Grand Final (2012) when Berisha scored a last minute penalty to win the game for Brisbane

What are your strengths at football

Winning the ball back

And what are you trying to improve

My left foot

What would you like to be when you grow up

Footballer

And if you can’t be a footballer

Engineer

Who is the most skilful player in your team

Milan

And who is always messing around !

Louis

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Dewpoint Service is proud to support our local Brisbane Strikers Football Club.